"I don't believe in accidents. There are only encounters in history. There are no accidents"

Pablo Picasso’s assertion that there are no accidents but only encounters in history expresses a profound perspective on fate, intention, and the interconnectedness of events. Instead of attributing occurrences to mere randomness or chance, Picasso suggests that everything that happens is the result of meaningful intersections or meetings. Every event and experience is a consequence of preceding circumstances, choices, and actions that come together purposefully, even if their rationale is not immediately apparent to those involved.

From this view, what might seem coincidental or accidental is actually an inevitable result of various elements converging at a particular moment in time. Human relationships, artistic inspiration, political shifts, and cultural developments are all shaped by the interactions and “encounters” between people, ideas, and circumstances. This outlook implies a certain order, coherence, or destiny embedded within the flow of events, hinting that history unfolds according to patterns or principles that can be understood retrospectively.

Such a perspective is not just philosophical, but also creative. Picasso, as an artist, found meaning in the unexpected juxtapositions and convergences in his own work, in the accidental brushstroke, the random assemblage of objects, or the serendipitous meeting with another artist. For him, these weren’t pointless occurrences, but essential encounters that shaped new directions. Creativity itself thrives on the meeting of ideas and influences, on the coming together of disparate elements to form something original. Nothing is wasted or random; everything contributes to the whole.

By denying the existence of accidents, Picasso also empowers individuals to seek meaning in every situation and encounter, recognizing that every moment, no matter how trivial it may seem, can be significant. Life and history, interpreted this way, are active processes of engagement rather than events subject to random chance, giving purpose to the complexities and mysteries of human experience.